Current role of laser interstitial thermal therapy in the treatment of intracranial tumors

Farhan Mirza; Rida Mitha; Muhammad Shamim

doi:10.4103/ajns.AJNS_185_20

Asian Journal of Neurosurgery, Table of Contents

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Asian J Neurosurg 2020; 15(04): 800-808
DOI: 10.4103/ajns.AJNS_185_20

Review Article

Current role of laser interstitial thermal therapy in the treatment of intracranial tumors

Farhan Mirza

¹Department of Neurosurgery, The Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

²Department of Neurosurgery, Kentucky Neuroscience Institute, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

,

Rida Mitha

³Department of Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

,

Muhammad Shamim

³Department of Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is gaining popularity in the treatment of both primary and secondary intracranial tumors. The goal of LITT is to deliver thermal energy in a predictable, controlled, and minimally invasive fashion. It can be particularly valuable in patients with recurrent tumors who, due to previous radiation or surgery, may have a potentially higher risk of wound breakdown or infection with repeat craniotomy. Deep-seated lesions that are often inaccessible through open approaches (thalamus, hypothalamus, mesial basal temporal lobe, brainstem) may also be suitable targets. The experience and data published thus far on this modality is limited but growing. This review highlights the use of LITT as a primary treatment method in a variety of intracranial tumors, as well as its application as an adjunct to established surgical techniques.

Key-words:

Brain metastasis - brain tumor - laser ablation

Full Text

References

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